news An Eau Claire man was charged last week in Pierce County Circuit Court with multiple felonies after eluding law enforcement throughout the Ellsworth area.
Matthew P. Betters, 41, was charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee a traffic officer and possession of methamphetamine....
Ellsworth, 54011

Ellsworth Wisconsin 126 S. Chestnut St. 54011

2013-12-03 11:06:18

An Eau Claire man was charged last week in Pierce County Circuit Court with multiple felonies after eluding law enforcement throughout the Ellsworth area.

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Matthew P. Betters, 41, was charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee a traffic officer and possession of methamphetamine. He was also charged with resisting an officer, criminal damage to property, possession of THC and drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.

His next scheduled court appearance is a preliminary hearing set for 11:30 a.m. this Friday.

“Mexico eventually”

According to the criminal complaint:

Ellsworth Police Officer Adam Olson was on patrol Nov. 23 when, in doing a check of a truck, he found the registered owner had a felony warrant. Olson began catching up to the vehicle near Main Street/Hwy. 10-63 near village limits.

In his report, Olson said he then turned on his siren lights, and was right behind the vehicle, which had two people in it, but they weren’t pulling over. As the truck was leaving the village limits, Olson radioed Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies for help as it passed the Hwy. 63 intersection.

Olson said speeds got up to 80 miles per hour as the truck passed a vehicle on Hwy. 10, east of 800th Street, in a double yellow no passing line. It then turned onto CTH J and travelled on the paved portion for about 250 yards, until it entered the ditch and began driving through a field. Olson kept up with the suspect vehicle, as it then entered a field drive.

As the truck continued to circle, Olson saw two hunters dressed in blaze orange. By this time, sheriff’s deputies had arrived at the top of a hill. With firearms pointed at it, the truck was approximately 25-50 yards away from the hunters until it swerved away from them. The truck eventually drove off a steep decline, striking several trees.

Olson said he saw the driver exit, which started a foot chase. The passenger was quickly apprehended by sheriff’s deputies. After multiple attempts, which even included tasering the driver, Olson finally tackled him to the ground and he was arrested. Betters was eventually identified by his driver’s license.

While being interviewed, Betters claimed he ran from police because he had a probation warrant and stated he did not want to go back to jail. When asked where he was trying to get to, he said “Mexico eventually.”

Betters also claimed to have seen the hunters, but didn’t think he was as close as Olson claimed. He said he never wanted to hurt anyone.

Olson also wrote in his report a search of the vehicle a couple of days later revealed a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine and counterfeit $20 bills.

Jason Schulte is a reporter for the New Richmond News since February 2015. Prior to that he spent eight years at the Pierce County Herald in Ellsworth. His duties with the News will include covering news out of Hammond and Roberts along with action from St. Croix County court system. He lives in Roberts with his wife and two daughters.